Nagpur: Acting on a tip-off, Ambazari police raided an illegal tobacco-based hookah parlor operating at Publico Café, Campus Chowk on Abazari Bypass Road and seized tobacco products and hookah materials worth ₹2,700 on Wednesday night. Two persons running the hookah lounge were arrested, and a case was registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act, 2003 and the Maharashtra Amendment Act.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
- Vikas Raju Dagor (32) – Resident of Ramnagar, Telangkhedi, under Ambazari Police Station
- Kuvesh Roshan Sharma (19) – Resident of Hilltop, under Ambazari Police Station
According to the police report, a patrolling team received information from Zone 2 DCP staff about a hookah parlor illegally operating at the café. Acting swiftly, a team from Ambazari Police Station conducted the raid in the presence of panch witnesses and confirmed that tobacco-laced hookahs were being served.
The police seized hookah flavors and smoking equipment valued at ₹2,700 from the spot. Based on the complaint, an offense was registered under Sections 4(1), 5(1), and 21 of the COTPA Act.
The action was carried out under the guidance of CP Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP Rajendra Dabhade, DCP (Zone 2) Nityanand Jha and ACP (Sitabuldi Division) Sudhir Nandanwar.
The operation was executed by Senior PI Vinod Godbole (Ambazari Police Station) along with API Prakash Sakore, Head Constables Rajesh Sonawane, Mahesh Bawne, Nandkishor Devgade, and constables Jayta Nadekar, Monu Sayyed, and other team members.
Police have warned that strict action will continue against such illegal hookah parlors in the city.
